“We certainly can’t be the puppet of the two largest parties..”

The recent rushed introduction by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Shaun Woodward, MP, of a bill dealing with some technical points around any devolved Justice Ministry – “which will be followed through when the parties agree a date” – provided the motivation for the Politics Show‘s Kevin Sharkey’s “parlour game” of ‘guess the candidate’. Of the three identified they could probably have narrowed it further.. Of more interest, though, are the concerns expressed by those in the legal fraternity. If only similar criteria was used for other ministers.. Below the fold is the studio discussion with one likely candidate, the Alliance Party’s Stephen Farry, and a member of the party which will decide when the request to devolve those powers is made, the DUP’s Arlene Foster. [As you well know – Ed] According to that likely candidate, “Hopefully by the end of the year”. [Hopefully.. – Ed] For the polit-bureau, within and without the NI Executive, there may be trouble ahead.. As for David Blunket’s ‘accountable to the people’ line.. if only..

The Alliance party’s Stephen Farry and the DUP’s Arlene Foster on the powers available to any devolved Justice Ministry